Ask for more than you'd settle for. If your employer agrees to the higher rate, so much the better. If not, you'll still have bargaining room.

2torial #0488: Learn2 Negotiate a Raise Determine how much to ask for Once you've considered prevailing salaries, your own job performance, and your employer's financial health, you're ready to determine a fair salary. Again, there's no formula, but an acceptable range should become clear in your mind. Your first step is to find out as much as you can about your company's compensation policies; working within the current salary plan is your best bet for securing a raise. You'll need to answer some basic questions: Does your company have a standard range for pay raises? What's the maximum? When are raises given? Who has the final approval over raise requests? Just remember: you should neither sell yourself short, nor price yourself out of the market. Ask yourself the following questions: What is the minimum acceptable salary below which you'd start looking for work elsewhere?: If you know you're willing to leave if a certain level is not met, you'll go into the negotiations with a clear head. What's the most you could conceivably ask for?: Think big. Maybe you won't get this much. Maybe you'd be scared even to ask. But at least let it sit in your mind awhile--you might find your courage growing to match your vision. What is the industry average for a job like yours? Is your performance above or below average?: You might not be able to put an exact dollar value on your performance, but this is perhaps the best way to gauge what you're worth to your employer. Remember that salaries vary from region to region, and take this into account when you compare yourself to the industry average. Step 5